Get advice and solutions for solving myriad of your PC problems, including expert tips on researching solutions on your own. Learn how to maintain your computer, keeping it in good working condition, plus how to upgrade and install new software safely. Troubleshoot Linux, Windows, and personal devices, use the internet effectively as a problem-solving tool, get up to speed on computer security, and set up small home and wireless networks. The companion Web site provides additional support.

Part I: Overview

1 What’s What-the Anatomy of a PC

2 Files and Folders

3 Improving on Perfection

4 Safe Computing

5 Helping Yourself

6 What You Need to Fix-It-Yourself-and Stay Safe

Part II: The Details: Hardware

7 The PC Case and the Power Supply

8 Motherboard, RAM, CPU, and BIOS

9 Hard Drives and Floppy Drives

10 Other Data Storage Devices

11 Monitors and Graphics Adapters

12 Expansion Cards

13 Networking

14 Connections

15 Input Devices

Part III: The Details: Software and Data

16 File System Care

17 Backup

18 Improving Performance and Stability

19 Making More of the Internet

Part IV: Appendixes

Appendix A Glossary of Common PC Terms and Abbreviations

Appendix B Websites

Appendix C Tools

Appendix D Common File Extensions